WO2006115341A1

WO2006115341A1 - Behavior monitoring system using set top box used for interactive digital broadcasting

Info

Publication number: WO2006115341A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/001285
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seung-Lim Jee
Original assignee: Alticast Corp.
Priority date: 2005-04-08
Filing date: 2006-04-07
Publication date: 2006-11-02
Also published as: KR20060107178A; KR100766889B1

Abstract

Provided is a behavior monitoring system using a set top box for interactive digital broadcasting that through an upstream, receives a broadcasting signal transmitted via a broadcasting network and transmits the broadcasting signal to a television (TV) of a user, and that through a downstream, receives user's input signal and transmits the signal to an appropriate terminal, characterized in that the set top box is equipped with an application which monitors the time when the user turns on or off the television using an input device in response to the user's on or off input signal and transmits the data to a terminal of a person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream. Whereas the conventional behavior monitoring system focuses on creating new demands through the analysis of preferred channels or programs for private interest, the behavior monitoring system in accordance with the present invention aims at improving public welfare.

Description

BEHAVIOR MONITORING SYSTEM USING SET TOP BOX USED FOR INTERACTIVE DIGITAL BROADCASTING

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a behavior monitoring system capable of monitoring physical abnormalities of aged people through interactive broadcasting. More particularly, the present invention relates to a behavior monitoring system capable of monitoring physical abnormalities of aged people using a set top box used for interactive digital broadcasting. The present invention also relates to a behavior monitoring system capable of coping with emergencies of aged people. Background Art

[2] The most distinct feature in Korean society is that, with the decrease in birth rate and improvement of medical services and living conditions, the population of aged people is increasing rapidly. That is, Korea is quickly turning into an aged society. According to the recent announcement by the Korea National Statistical Office, Koreans average life span is expected to be extended from 74.9 years in 2000, to 78.8 years in 2010 and 79 years in 2030. With the increase in average life span, the population of the people 65 years or older is expected to increase from 3.37 millions in 2000 to 10 millions in 2030, accounting for over 23 % of the whole population. And, with the phenomenon of the "nuclear family" accompanying the industrialization, 60 % of all the aged people who are 65 years or older are living independently at present. This number is increasing each year. Of the aged people who are living independently, about 87 % are reported to suffer dementia, palsy, cancer or other chronic diseases.

[3] The "aged people" is defined as the people who experiences difficulties in lives at the later stage of life as physical, psychological and social capabilities decline with aging. And, the "aged people living in solitude" is defined as the aged people who live independently of their children. The "aged people problem" refers to the situation in which the basic wishes and requirements for survival and development cannot be fulfilled by their own or their families efforts, thereby resulting in economical difficulties, health problems, solitude, estrangement and stress. With the increase in "nuclear families" and the population of aged people accompanied by industrialization, it is becoming an important social problem. Particularly, with the lack of the welfare policy for aged people since the IMF crisis, a great number of aged people are missing meals. To take Gyeonggi-do for example, more than 10,000 people, including the elderly with low income and those living in solitude, are satisfying their hunger in 77 free food- service facilities. [4] In an effort to solve the aged people problem, the government is granting subsidies to the aged people and offering access to medical institutions for the elderly 65 years or older at lower cost. This policy aims at preventing and detecting aged people diseases, offering adequate treatment and recuperation, thereby maintaining mental and physical health and providing stable lives for the elderly.

[5] There a lot of other policies including free transportation. However, all these measures are countermeasures. The fundamental solution to the aged people s problem is to assure the aged people that they are not estranged from the society but are members of the society. In solving the aged people problem, fundamental cure of health and loneliness is important.

[6] The present invention tries to solve the health and loneliness problem fundamentally using interactive digital broadcasting. The medium with which the aged people are most familiar is the television. With the rapid commercialization of interactive digital broadcasting delivered through TVs, a behavior monitoring system based on the interactive digital broadcasting has been proposed. The conventional behavior monitoring system based on the interactive digital broadcasting focuses on analyzing the viewers behavior, that is, which commercial ads or programs the viewers are watching. This behavior monitoring system intends to actively meet the viewers needs to create new demands. Specifically, the conventional behavior monitoring system aims at grasping the viewers interests through behavior analysis and providing relevant ads or programs to actively satisfy the viewers' needs.

[7] However, for the aged people, the purpose of creating new demands using the behavior monitoring system is very restricted. In view of public welfare, the purpose of creating new demands is not adequate for the aged people. Thus, the behavior monitoring system is inadequate for the aged people. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] Basically, the present invention approaches a behavior monitoring system based on interactive digital broadcasting for the aged people, for public purpose. The present invention is based on the fact that aged people have a regular, time-dependent lifestyle. They get up at regular hours (normally between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.), do daily activities at regular hours (normally between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.) and go to bed at regular hours (normally between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.). The aged people are familiar with TV more than any other media. They tend to turn on and off TVs at regular hours. Specifically, most of the aged people are familiar with TV. They watch TV while they have breakfast. And, after outdoor activities, they watch TV before going to bed.

[9] Based on this fact, an object of the present invention is to provide a behavior monitoring system using a set top box for interactive digital broadcasting that through an upstream, receives a broadcasting signal transmitted via a broadcasting network and transmits the broadcasting signal to a television (TV) of a user, and that through a downstream, receives user's input signal and transmits the signal to an appropriate terminal, characterized in that the set top box is equipped with an application which monitors the time when the user turns on or off the television using an input device in response to the user's on or off input signal and transmits the data to a terminal of a person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream.

[10] Another object of the present invention is to provide a behavior monitoring system which monitors at least the time when the user turns on the TV for the first time during a day and transmits the monitoring result to the terminal of a person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream..

[11] Another object of the present invention is to provide a behavior monitoring system which monitors the time when the user turns off the TV for the last time during a day, in addition to the time when the user turns on the TV for the first time during the day, and transmits the monitoring result to terminal of a person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream.

[12] Another object of the present invention is to provide a behavior monitoring system which monitors if the time during which the TV remains turned on or off exceeds a predetermined time and transmits the monitoring result to terminal of a person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream.

[13] Another object of the present invention is to provide a behavior monitoring system which monitors all the time when the user turns on and off the TV, determines if the user's TV watching pattern is normal through statistical analysis based on time and transmits the result to terminal of a person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream..

[14] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a behavior monitoring system in which, when an emergency occurs on the user, the set top box receives an urgent signal from the user and transmits it to terminal of a person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream. Technical Solution

[15] The behavior monitoring system of the present invention comprises a set top box used for interactive digital broadcasting enabling upstreaming, or receiving a broadcasting signal transmitted via a broadcasting network and transmitting it to a user, and downstreaming, or receiving a signal from the user and transmitting it to an appropriate terminal, and is characterized in that the set top box is equipped with an application which monitors the time when the user turns on or off the TV using an input device based on the corresponding input signal and transmits the data to a terminal in the control of the person who is responsible for taking care of the user through downstreaming.

Advantageous Effects

[16] The behavior monitoring system of the present invention is advantageous in that the public and social welfare can be improved by monitoring the physical and/or mental conditions of the people who need others help at any time, like the aged people living in solitude. Whereas the conventional behavior monitoring system focuses on creating new demands through the analysis of preferred channels or programs for private interest, the behavior monitoring system in accordance with the present invention aims at improving public welfare. The behavior monitoring using a set top box in accordance with the present invention is particularly appropriate for the aged people living in solitude. Since the aged people living in solitude are cut off from the outside, there is no special means of notification when an emergency or an accident has occurred on them. Most of the aged people living in solitude spend their time watching television, the only medium that informs the news from the outside. Thus, by monitoring when they turn on and off the TV, it is possible to check if there is anything wrong in their living patterns. Those who are responsible for taking care of the aged people living in solitude, for example, their children or doctors, can check if they are leading normal lives based on the transmitted message and take measures if there are any abnormalities. This means that the existing passive welfare policy for the aged people can be converted into an active welfare policy, switching from the existing onesided policy to an interactive one. Moreover, the behavior monitoring system using a set top box in accordance with the present invention enables the physically weak aged people to send an urgent signal using, for example, a send-only necklace, etc., in an emergency. The signal is received by the set top box for interactive broadcasting, which analyzes the signal and transmits the urgent signal to the relevant recipients, based on analysis. That is, through interactive communication between the middleware (e.g., a multichannel home platform) of the set top box and the server, it is possible to actively cope with the emergencies that occur on the aged people living in solitude or others who are in need of rescue but are not easily accessible to adequate means.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[17] Fig. 1 is a block diagram which schematically illustrates the behavior monitoring system in accordance with the present invention. [18] Fig. 2 is a flow chart for a preferred embodiment which monitors only the time when the user turns on and off the TV for the first time. [19] Fig. 3 is a flow chart for a preferred embodiment which determines if the user's watching pattern based on time is normal or abnormal and transmits the result only.

[20] Fig. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the message displayed on the terminal of the person who is responsible for taking care of the user.

[21] Fig. 5 is a block diagram for a preferred embodiment which, in addition to determining abnormalities of the user's watching pattern, enables the user to send an urgent signal in an emergency.

[22] Fig. 6 is a block diagram for a more preferred embodiment which, in addition to determining abnormalities of the user's watching pattern, enables the user to send an urgent signal in an emergency. Mode for the Invention

[23] The behavior monitoring system of the present invention comprises a set top box for interactive digital broadcasting that through an upstream, receives a broadcasting signal transmitted via a broadcasting network and transmits the broadcasting signal to a television (TV) of a user, and that through a downstream, receives user's input signal and transmits the signal to an appropriate terminal, characterized in that the set top box is equipped with an application which monitors the time when the user turns on or off the television using an input device in response to the user's on or off input signal and transmits the data to a terminal of a person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream. The most important factor for checking the physical abnormalities of aged people is the time when they turn on the TV for the first time during a day. Thus, the behavior monitoring system of the present invention monitors at least the first time when the user turns on the TV for the first time during a day. In addition, the behavior monitoring system monitors time when the user turns off the TV for the last time during a day. Because most of the aged people turn off the TV before they go to bed, it is possible to check if there are any abnormalities by monitoring the turn off time. Also, if the TV remains turned on or off for a long time, it is highly probable that there are physical abnormalities in the aged people. Thus, preferably, the fact that the TV remains turned on or off over a predetermined time, is notified to the person who is responsible for taking care of the user. The present invention also provides a behavior monitoring system which monitors all the time when the TV is turned on and off, determines if the user's watching pattern through statistical analysis based on time is normal and transmits the result to the person who is responsible for taking care of the user through downstreaming.

[24] Hereunder, more detailed description of the present invention will be described referring to the attached drawings.

[25] Fig. 1 is a block diagram which schematically illustrates the behavior monitoring system in accordance with the present invention. A set top box (100) processes and controls a signal through a signal processing and control unit (10), upon the user's request or depending on the type of the received signal, and displays the received signal on a TV set (2), stores the received signal in a storage medium (20) (e.g., a hard disk) or request particular contents. Transmission of a signal (e.g., a signal transmitted via a broadcasting network) received by the set top box to the user is called up- streaming and processing of a signal received from the user requesting a specific data is called downstreaming. Normally, downstreaming is carried out by a return path server (3).

[26] The set top box (100) is equipped with an application (30) which monitors the time when the TV is turned on and off, preferably the time when the TV is turned on for the first time and turned off for the last time, during a day and transmits the collected data to a terminal (4) in the control of the person who is responsible for taking care of the user through downstreaming. The application is quite different from the application equipped in the conventional behavior monitoring system, in the objects to be monitored, the target recipient of the collected data, the functions, etc. Whereas the application equipped in the conventional behavior monitoring system is for analyzing which ads or programs are preferred by the user and actively coping with the user's requirements, the application (30) of the present invention is for monitoring the time when the TV is turned on and off by the user. And, whereas the application equipped in the conventional behavior monitoring system transmits the collected data to the person who installed the application or those who are particularly related with the person, the application (30) of the present invention transmits the collected data to the person who is particularly related with the user, or the person who is responsible for taking care of the user. In addition, whereas the application equipped in the conventional behavior monitoring system collects data based on the analysis on the ads or programs watched by the user, the application (30) of the present invention collects data based on the signal input by the user.

[27] The data collected by the application (30) is transmitted to the terminal (4) in the control of the person who is particularly related with the user by the return path server (3) through processes downstreaming. In this description, "the person who is particularly related with the user" or "the person who is responsible for taking care of the user" refers to the person who can regularly check the physical abnormalities of the user and maintain the user's physical conditions. Such a responsibility may be determined by the law, private contract or social or moral obligation. For example, the person who is responsible for taking care of the user may be the user's children, a doctor who is responsible for regular checkup of the user's physical conditions based on a contract, an organization, etc. The terminal (4) may be a device capable of data communication, e.g., a cell phone, a computer, a PDA, etc. Preferably, it is a cell phone capable of text messaging. The person who is particularly related with the user can check the abnormalities of the user's living pattern based on the data displayed on the terminal (4). Suppose that the average time when the TV is turned on for the first time is 06:30 and the average time when the TV is turned off for the last time is 21:00. If the TV is turned on for the first time at 07:30 or turned off for the last time at 19:10 or if the TV is not turned on at all for 3 consecutive days, the person who is particularly related with the user may call the user to check if there are any abnormalities in the user's life, including physical conditions. Thus, the person who is particularly related with the user can fulfill his/her responsibility even at a remote place through continuous monitoring and the user can feel assured that he/she is not cut off from the society but is taken care of.

[28] When a signal to turn on the TV is received from the user, the signal processing and control unit (10) generates a control signal corresponding to the signal to turn on the TV set (2) and transmits the upstream transmitted to the set top box (100) to the TV set (2) and displays it. At the same time, the application (30) monitors the time when the TV is turned on using a timer (40) equipped in the set top box (100). Similarly, when signal to turn off the TV is received from the user, the application (30) monitors the time when the TV is turned off. The TV on/off time monitored by the application (30) is transmitted to the terminal (4) by the return path server (3) in real time or periodically (e.g., daily or weekly) after being stored in the storage medium (20) of the set top box (100). Suppose that the user turns and off the TV two or times a day. The application (30) may monitor all the on/off time data. This is preferable in view of data acquisition, but there is a possibility that the data volume increases. For example, if data is to be transmitted to the cell phone of the user's child by text messaging (SMS), it is impossible to transmit a large quantity of data at once. Thus, it is preferable to monitor only the time when the TV is turned on for the first time and turned off for the last time during a day. That is, if the user turns on and off the TV for several times a day, only the time when the TV is turned on for the first time and the time when the TV is turned off for the last time are monitored. Fig. 2 shows a flow chart for such an embodiment. When the user gets up and turns on the TV for the first time using a remote controller, a turn-on signal is received from the user (SlOO). The signal processing and control unit of the set top box transmits the upstream to the TV set and displays it and the application (30) checks the turn-on time and stores it (S200). Later, if a turn-off signal is received from the user (S500), the application updates the turn-off time (S600). When the user turns on the TV again (S900), the application (30) determines if the turn-on signal is received on the same date (SlOOO). If the turn-on signal has been received on the same date, the application checks the time when the user inputs a turn-off signal and updates the turn-off time (Sl 100). Then, the first turn- on time and the last turn-off time are transmitted to the terminal (4) in the control of the person who is particularly related with the user by the return path server (3) (S 1200). Fig. 2 shows an embodiment where the transmission is performed by text messaging, but it is not limited to that. If required, the transmission can be performed by e-mailing. And, although the first turn-on time and the last turn-off time transmitted in Fig. 2, only the first turn-on time may be transmitted. Since the time when the TV is turned on for the first time has an important meaning for the aged people living in solitude, who may pass away during the night, only the first turn-on time may be monitored and transmitted. In this case, the data volume can be minimized and the person who is responsible for taking care of the user can check the data more conveniently.

[29] If a turn-on signal is not received from the user, it is determined if the time when the TV remains turned off exceeds a predetermined time (e.g., 24 hours) (S300). If the time has exceeded the predetermined time, it is nofitied to the person who is particularly related with the user in real time (S400). The same is true of the case when a turn-off signal is not received for a predetermined time after the TV was turned on (S700 and S800).

[30] As described above, if all the TV on/off time is monitored and transmitted, the data volume increases a lot and transmission to a cell phone by SMS (short message service) is restricted. Thus, the application may be so programmed that it determines if the user's watching pattern based on time is normal or abnormal and transmits only the result. In such an embodiment, a database based on the statistical analysis of the user's TV on/off time needs to be constructed. The database may be constructed on a weekly basis, but preferably on a daily basis. Fig. 3 is a flow chart for such an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, in response to the TV on/off signal input by the user's input device (e.g., a remote controller, a wireless keyboard, etc.), the application monitors and stores the on/off time (SlOO'). Subsequently, the application determines if the TV on/ off time is normal based on the user's statistical behavior based on the database (S200¹). And, the result is transmitted to the person who is particularly related with the user (S300¹). In this embodiment, the application monitors all the on/off time corresponding to the user's on/off input signals and informs if the user's living pattern is normal.

[31] Most preferably, the present invention informs the time when the TV is turned on for the time and turned on for the last time and informs if the user's living pattern is normal. Fig. 4 shows the message displayed on the terminal of the person who is particularly related with the user. As shown in Fig. 4, the time when the TV is turned on for the first time (401), the time when the TV is turned off for the last time (402) and the normality or abnormality of the user's watching pattern based on the TV on/off time (403) are displayed on the screen of the terminal. The person who is particularly related with the user can conveniently check from the displayed data if the user is leading a normal life.

[32] Preferably, in addition to the determination of living pattern of the aged people living in solitude through monitoring of the TV on/off time, the behavior monitoring system in accordance with the present invention is further equipped with the capability of emergency warning using an urgent signal generator. Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the behavior monitoring system equipped with such an emergency warning capability. As shown in Fig. 5, the behavior monitoring system (1) in accordance with the present invention comprises a set top box (100) equipped with an application which monitors the user's TV on/off time and an urgent signal generator (200). The urgent signal generator (200) comprises an input button (201), an RF module (202) which generates and transmits an RF signal of a particular frequency corresponding to the pressing of the input button (201), a transmission antenna (203) and a power source (204) which supplies power. In an emergency, the user presses the input button (201). Then, corresponding to the user's pressing of the input button (201), the RF module (202) generates an urgent signal. The urgent signal is transmitted to the set top box (100) via the transmission antenna (203). After receiving the urgent signal, the set top box (100) transmits the user identification data (e.g., the user's name, address, etc.; normally stored in the memory of the set top box) to such an emergency rescue center as the 119 Rescue Service or a hospital through the return path server (3) under the control of the signal processing and control unit (10). Then, the emergency rescue center is informed that the user is in an emergency and can take an appropriate measure.

[33] The urgent signal generator (200) may be fabricated in the form of necklace or bracelet. In order to prevent unwanted consequences caused by unintended or mistaken pressing of the input button (201), the urgent signal generator (200) may be designed so that an urgent signal is generated only when the input button (201) is pressed for at least 20 seconds. Also, a sensor (205) that measures physical parameters such as heartbeat may be equipped in the urgent signal generator (200), so that an urgent signal is generated automatically if there occurs an abnormality in the user's physical conditions. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, if necessary, the sensor (205) can replace the input button (201).

[34] Fig. 6 is a block diagram for a more preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The system (1) comprises a set top box (100) and an urgent signal generator (200). The urgent signal generator (200) comprises an input button (201), a control unit (206), an RF module (202), a memory (207) in which the user identification data is stored, a transmission antenna (203) and a power source (204). When the presses the input button (201) in an emergency, the RF module (202) modulates the user identification data (user name and/or address) stored in the memory (207) to an RF signal under the control of control unit (206) and transmits it via the transmission antenna (203). The set top box (100) receives and processes the RF signal and transmits the user identification data to the return path server (3). In addition to the user identification data, the set top box (100) may further transmit a set top ID, which informs the location of the user. If required, the urgent signal generator (200) may be equipped with a positioning system (GPS) for transmitting the location data. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the set top box needs not be in the control of the user. That is, the user can send an urgent signal when he/she is an emergency in the public place. And, as described above, the urgent signal generator (200) may be designed so that an urgent signal is generated only when the input button (201) is pressed for at least 20 seconds. Also, a sensor (205) that measures physical parameters such as heartbeat may be equipped in the urgent signal generator (200), so that an urgent signal is generated automatically if there occurs an abnormality in the user's physical conditions. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, if necessary, the sensor (205) can replace the input button (201). [35] As described, it should be evident that the present invention can be implemented through a variety of configurations in the aforementioned technical field without affecting, influencing or changing its spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the examples and applications illustrated herein is intended to be in the nature of description rather than of limitation. Furthermore, the meaning, scope and higher conceptual understandings of the present patent application as well as modifications and variations that arise from thereof should be understood to be extensions to this current application.

Claims

[1] A behavior monitoring system using a set top box for interactive digital broadcasting that through an upstream, receives a broadcasting signal transmitted via a broadcasting network and transmits the broadcasting signal to a television (TV) of a user, and that through a downstream, receives user's input signal and transmits the signal to an appropriate terminal, characterized in that the set top box is equipped with an application which monitors the time when the user turns on or off the television using an input device in response to the user's on or off input signal and transmits the data to a terminal of a person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream.

[2] The behavior monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the application monitors at least the time when the user turns on the TV for the first time during a day and transmits the monitoring result to a terminal of the person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream.

[3] The behavior monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the application further monitors the time when the user turns off the TV for the last time during a day, in addition to the time when the user turns on the TV for the first time during the day, and transmits the monitoring result to a terminal in the control of the person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream.

[4] The behavior monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the application further monitors if the TV remains turned on or off over a predetermined time, and transmits the monitoring result to the terminal of the person who is responsible for taking care of the user in real time through the downstream.

[5] The behavior monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the application further monitors all the time when the user turns on and off the TV, determines if the user's TV watching pattern is normal through statistical analysis based on the on or off time and transmits the result to the terminal of the person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream.

[6] The behavior monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the user is an aged person.

[7] The behavior monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the application transmits the time when the user turns on the TV for the first time during a day, the time when the user turns off the TV for the last time during a day and the normality or abnormality of the user's watching pattern based on the on or off time to a terminal of the person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream.

[8] The behavior monitoring system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, in addition to the set top box, an urgent signal generator that generates an urgent signal that is processed by the set top box and transmitted to the terminal of the person who is responsible for taking care of the user through the downstream.

[9] The behavior monitoring system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the urgent signal generator comprises an input button, an RF module which generates an RF signal in response to a pressing of the input button, a transmission antenna and a power source which supplies power.

[10] The behavior monitoring system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the eurgent signal gnerator further comprising a sensor which detects parameters for checking physical abnormalities of the user in addition to or in replacement with the input button.

[11] The behavior monitoring system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the urgent signal generator comprises an input button, an RF module which generates an RF signal corresponding to the pressing of the input button, a transmission antenna, a memory in which the user identification data is stored, a control unit which controls components of the the urgent signal generator and a power source which supplies power.

[12] The behavior monitoring system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the eurgent signal gnerator further comprising a sensor which detects parameters for checking physical abnormalities of the user in addition to or in replacement with the input button.

[13] The behavior monitoring system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the urgent signal generator is in a form of bracelet or necklace.

[14] A behavior monitoring method comprising the steps of: monitoring time when a user turns on or off the TV using an input device with an application equipped in a set top box; and transmitting the monitoring result to a terminal of the person who is responsible for taking care of the user through downstreaming.

[15] The behavior monitoring method as set forth in claim 14, further comprising the step of transmitting, in addition to the TV on/off time, an urgent signal received from the user in an emergency to the terminal of the person who is responsible for taking care of the user through downstreaming.

[16] The behavior monitoring method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the user is an aged person.